Care 'significantly below' what it should have been

EFFORTS by Harry Longden's next-of-kin, his wife - and his son - to obtain his medical records took more than five months even though they both had legal power of attorney and his written permission to represent him in medical affairs.

EFFORTS by Harry Longden's next-of-kin, his wife - and his son - to obtain his medical records took more than five months even though they both had legal power of attorney and his written permission to represent him in medical affairs.

When the case notes were handed over parts were blanked out.

An internal inquiry by the Cheshire and Wirral NHS Partnership was held in response to the family's complaints but did not address all the concerns they had outlined.

The first version given to the family and Trust board members did not include the conclusions of investigator Dr Mavis Evans, clinical director, who confirmed Harry's deterioration coincided with his treatment on Jarman ward.

Son Mike Longden was unhappy that the inquiry parameters were also changed to no longer include the period in the Countess when tests were carried out to ascertain why Harry collapsed and when he began to re-cover after the medication was withdrawn.

And Mr Longden junior says he was told the original inquiry panel would include a pharmacologist. Instead, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry Alistair Burns was consulted on the use of amisulpiride but was not listed among those inter-viewed.

In an e-mail he told investigator Dr Evans he was 'not a regular if ever' user of the drug even though the internal inquiry quoted him as being among various old age psychiatrists who administered it.

The report concluded: 'Mr Longden's care and treatment fell significantly below what he could reasonably have expected to receive'.

The consultant in charge of Harry's care, Dr Christine Gilmore, did not consider Harry Longden's suffering was from side-effects until just before the collapse, and there was no criticism in the report of their use.

The final report did, however, recommend Dr Gilmore receive a refresher training course in psychopharmacology, customer care and record keeping as part of her 'development plan'.

The report also found there had been unacceptable delays in providing the family with health records and that entries were inappropriately deleted, that standard record keeping was not of a consistently high standard and that 'inappropriate comments' relating to Mike Longden were recorded.

It called for a review of nursing on the ward, training in record keeping, an audit of falls and violent incidents, increased investment in pharmacy advice to the clinical team and the appointment of a 'modern matron' to enhance supervision and be available to families expressing concern.